Worktop and Furniture Incorporating a Worktop

ABSTRACT

A worktop comprises a first surface and second surface spaced apart by a face to define the thickness of the worktop. The worktop is provided with a compartment towards the rear which can receive a standard computer base unit. A source of mains power is provided to this compartment by means of cad e, and further connections to the base unit within the compartment allow for the standard peripherals, namely a display, a keyboard and a mouse to be attached. The worktop and associated compartment are supported on legs or other suitable supports which may be movable so that the worktop can be raised or lowered. The worktop has at least one peripheral component ( 20 ), e.g. a DVD, embedded in its thickness which is accessible at the front of the worktop. In order that the base unit of the computer can communicate with the component, a conversion module ( 31 ) is provided which converts the USB signals at the base unit to IDE/EIDE signals received by or transmitted from the component.

The present invention relates worktops and furniture incorporatingworktops and particularly to furniture which house all or parts of acomputer system and/or peripheral devices, controls and indicatorsassociated therewith.

For the benefit of clarity the term worktop should be understood to meanany panel-like article which, in use, is horizontally disposed toprovide a working surface and/or storage surface.

Also for the benefit of clarity a piece of furniture should beunderstood to mean any piece of furniture which may be moveable, suchas, for example, a desk, or fixed, such as, for example, a kitchencabinet.

The heart of a computer is the CPU (central processing unit—commonly asingle integrated circuit) which is normally provided on a motherboardtogether with any closely associated circuit components and devices notrequiring direct external access, such as memory, data buses, a basicinput/output system (BIOS), a power supply (PSU), hard disk drivecontrollers and subsystems etc. There will also be a variety ofdifferent connections to and from the motherboard which ultimatelyprovide the CPU with data to be processed so as to prove the computingpower. Examples of items which may be connected include the variousexternal peripherals which may be attached to the connectors usuallyprovided externally of the base unit, being the container inside whichthe motherboard is mounted, such as a mouse, keyboard or touch sensitivepad, telephone line, network connection and/or scanner, and examples ofperipherals which are commonly connected internally of the base unitdirectly to the motherboard include such devices as a DVD drive, a CDROMdrive and hard disk drives. The CPU output may be manifested in a numberof different ways, such as a display, a printer, network traffic and thelike.

By the term “computer unit” is meant an integral arrangement whichcomprises a CPU (central processing unit—commonly a single integratedcircuit), the motherboard on which it is mounted, and the variousclosely associated circuits/circuit components provided thereon,together with the peripherals traditionally provided internally of thebase unit in which the motherboard is disposed, such as the CD or DVDdrives and the hard disk drives.

The degree of integration of signal input and output devices with a CPUto form a computer unit is variable. Typically, separate external signalinput devices such as keyboards and mice, and signal output devices suchas displays and printers are plugged into a base unit, although theycould be hard wired therein as part of the computer unit. Other signalinput/output devices, such as modems, floppy disc drives and CDROM/DVDdrives can also be external of the computer unit and coupled thereto,and indeed there are many of these external devices available todaywhich can simply be connected to the base unit, and thus to themotherboard by means of a simple “Universal Serial Bus” or USBconnection. Hard disk drives are almost invariably provided within thebase unit and connected to the motherboard by means of a ribbon cable.Circuit components and devices not requiring direct external access,such as memory, a power supply, fan, are also normally hard wired to themotherboard within the computer unit.

The combination of a “computer unit” with externally coupled deviceswill be referred to as a “computer system”.

The visibility and portability of normal computer units and computersystems, and the accessibility of the CPUs and memory therewithin, maketheft relatively easy. The normal steel case traditionally used in themanufacture of the base unit is functional rather than aesthetic.

Computer systems have become a common feature in many environments,including the majority of offices and many homes. The need to couplevarious external units to a computer unit to form what is, essentially,a single computer system almost inevitably leads to a tangle of wires,which is undesirable and not aesthetically pleasing. It becomesdifficult to check and alter or replace connections between thedifferent units, reliability and speed of operation of the system couldbe reduced, and when the wires trail over the floor, personal safetyconsiderations come into play, together with the risk of damage to thewires themselves.

It is known to provide computer desks which have oversized holes toaccommodate a variety of cased computer units and printers, and workstations which are capable of holding a monitor, printer and casedcomputer unit—although if the latter is a tower unit it will often haveto stand beside the desk or work station. The different complete unitsin their own cases are simply placed into respective locations andinterconnected. Removal is correspondingly simple. At least some partsof the interconnecting wiring and/or the units in their cases arecommonly externally visible.

It is also known to provide furniture which is adapted to accommodateparts of the computer system in a more integrated manner. EuropeanPatent Application No. 0 165 130 discloses a two pedestal desk in which(a) a CRT monitor is retractable into one pedestal through an aperturein the desk top, which aperture is then closed flush with the desk top;(b) a keyboard on a central shelf is concealed with not in use by asliding shutter which then lies flush with, and locally completes, thedesk top—the shutter terminates in a vertical hinged flap, and both flapand shutter are necessary to conceal the keyboard; (c) a printer islocated within the other pedestal, with continuous paper from a basketbeneath the pedestal entering the back of the pedestal and emergingthrough a slot in the desk top; (d) also within the other pedestal is anassembly (computer unit) comprising, inter alia, a CPU, memory, powersupply unit (s), disc drives and a fan. As shown, it appears that thisassembly is formed on an open sided drawer-like base which can beremoved as an entity from the desk. Also as shown, the controls formovement of the monitor and the slots for the disc drives are alwaysvisible at the front of the respective pedestals, and the integrity ofthe desk top is destroyed by the apertures for paper and monitor. Evenwhen it is not in use, it will be apparent that this is rather more thana simple desk.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,804 shows a computer desk in which the centralportion of the top contains a concealable keyboard and flush monitor.This portion is located in a central box also containing a computer andpower supply, and is rotatable relative to the box from a position flushwith side portions of the worktop to a working position in which bothmonitor and keyboard are revealed. Other appliances such as a facsimilemachine, copier and/or printer are located beneath doors in the sideportions of the worktop. In this arrangement, the integrity of the desktop is destroyed both by the need to rotate the central portion and theneed to access different appliances mounted below it, and it appearsthat the computer is a discrete (cased) unit. It also seems likely thatthe central box will be of a depth unusual in a simple desk.

Other computer desks are described in UK Patent Application Serial No. 2281 692, International Patent application Serial No. WO/86/06575, U.S.Pat. No. 4,852,500 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,204. In each of these, thework top lacks integrity, and/or external computer controls remainvisible, and/or they do not disguise the fact that they contain acomputer system, and/or they do not disguise the fact that a computerunit is incorporated, and is thus easily removable, as an entire unit.

European Patent application No. 0 251 643 discloses a chair in which atleast one arm incorporates an ergonomically designed keyboard whichremains visible when not in use.

The fundamental difficulty with these various prior art devices is thatthey are all concerned with the problem of trying to integrate, mostsimply, a computer into a desk. It is clearly well known to strip thecomputer down to its essential components, namely the motherboard, thePSU, the hard disk drives and the Input/Output devices such as monitor,keyboard, mouse and the like, and then to try, as ergonomically aspossible given the constraints of the furniture, to locate or embed allthese components within the furniture in cavities or recesses, and thenmerely to link the various, now remotely disposed components together bytraditional wiring fed through channels or passageways provided in thedesk.

It is worth mentioning that while there may be methods of achieving thisaim, and that some of these methods and the “computer-enabled” furnitureresulting from the methods may be patentable, in general, none of theprior art documents is concerned with a piece of apparatus which on theone hand can be view as a convenient and useful upgrade of a standardbase unit and which on the other hand overcomes the prevailingdifficulty of remotely connecting the types of peripherals to themotherboard of a base unit which are traditionally provided internallythereof in standard computer manufacture. It is to be understood in thisinstance that the types of peripheral in question are CD-ROM drives, DVDdrives, hard disk drives and the like.

Those skilled in the art will already be aware that these types ofperipheral are already available to purchase as stand alone items forconnection to standard base units via a USB interface cable, but it isonly relatively recently, indeed in the last 10 years or so, that theUSB interface has become widespread across such usually internallyconnected peripherals. Formerly, the connection of such peripherals wasusually only achieved either internally through very short (less than 30cm) ribbon cables provided with suitable connectors depending on whichdata interface standard was employed, e.g. Integrated Drive Electronics(IDE), Extended IDE (EIDE) or Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI),or externally by means of a suitable expansion card provided in one ofthe expansion slots of the computer, and a suitable (but again short)cable between the peripheral and the connector on the expansion card.

Traditionally, so-called “external” peripheral components have been moreexpensive than internal peripheral components, not least because of theneed to make external components more aesthetically pleasing, but ingeneral nowadays, almost all external peripheral components areconnected to a computer base unit by a conventional and now ubiquitousUSB interface cable. USB has been widely adopted because it is simple,data transfer rates are reasonable, and furthermore and importantlythere is no need for knowledge of master/slave nomination betweenperipherals as is required in the case of IDE/EIDE interfaces, or of therequirement for termination as is needed in SCSI connected peripherals.

Hence, for the simple computer user, the connection of an externalperipheral nowadays presents no problem, and it is a simple matter ofplugging the peripheral in and this then being immediately recognized bythe software operating system loaded in the computer's memory.

However, it is surmised that there is still a need for the IDE, EIDE,and SCSI (and more recently Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)standards because they allow for the manufacture of incredibly cheapperipherals on account of manufacturing techniques which have beenemployed now for some 20 years or more. Such standards are hereinafterreferred to as internal interface standards, whereas USB, and the moretraditional serial and parallel connections fall to be considered asexternal interface standards.

It is worth mentioning at this stage that the cost of an external USB(version 2) interface hard disk drive is almost twice that of aninternal IDE/EIDE hard disk drive of corresponding size, but asmentioned, these standards are limited in their application because of:

-   -   i. the short distances over which the signals can travel along        IDE/EIDE and SCSI cables    -   ii. their comparative complexity in set up.

The above is equally true for CD-ROM drives, and the newer CD-RW,DVD-ROM, DVD−/+RW drives-internal devices are always significantly lessexpensive than their corresponding, USB-specified external counterparts.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a piece offurniture which allows for computing functionality in that certaincomponents are embedded within the furniture work surface, and whichtakes advantage of the relative inexpensiveness of internal drivecomponents.

According to the present invention a worktop comprises a first surfaceand second surface spaced apart by a face to define the thickness of theworktop which has front and rear portions, said worktop being providedwith a compartment towards the rear portion of suitable dimensions toreceive a standard computer base unit, said worktop and associatedcabinet being supported and optionally movable relative to said support,said worktop being provided with at least one peripheral componentadapted for connection to a motherboard by means of an internalinterface standard, said peripheral component being disposed in thefront portion of the worktop between the first and second surfaces so asto be accessible to a user for removal, replacement or insertion ofsuitable media thereinto,

Characterized in that

A conversion module is embedded in the worktop proximate the peripheralcomponent which is connected to said conversion module by means of asuitable internal interface connector, said conversion module acting toconvert the signals received from the peripheral component from signalstransmitted in accordance with an internal interface standard to signalstransmitted in accordance with an external interface standard, saidconversion module transmitting said external interface standard signalsto the base unit disposed in the compartment towards the rear of theworktop.

Preferably, the conversion module include signal amplification circuitrywhich effectively amplifies the signals received from the peripheralcomponent over the internal interface standard before converting theseinto signals in accordance with the external interface standard.

Preferably the internal interface standard is of the IDE type (includingEIDE), and the external interface standard is of the USB type.

Preferably, the transmission of the external interface standard signalsfrom the conversion module is effected by means of one or more wires,first ends of which are connected to the base unit, and second ends areconnected to said conversion module.

Preferably, a source of power, independent of the source of powerprovided to the base unit, is provided to the conversion module.

Preferably, this source of power is a battery wired to the conversionmodule and embedded in the worktop proximate to said conversion module.

Most preferably, the component is a media drive having a slot at itsfront for receiving suitable user-insertable media, and further providedwith a rear connector of an internal interface standard type, said rearconnector being wired to the conversion module internally of theworktop.

Most preferably the component is a DVD drive.

Alternately, the peripheral component is a hard disk drive.

Most preferably, the peripheral component is embedded in the worktop insuch a manner that the majority of the body of the peripheral componentis concealed within the worktop excepting the front face of saidperipheral component, which is preferably flush with the front faceportion of the worktop.

Most preferably, the peripheral component, the accompanying conversionmodule to which it is attached, and the base unit are capablecommunicating bi-directionally in that data is received by themotherboard of the base unit, and transmitted therefrom ultimately to bereceived by the peripheral component. This arrangement is particularlyuseful where the peripheral component is a media storage device such asa CD-R, CD-RW, DVD−/+RW, or hard disk drive.

It is worth mentioning that the source of additional power in the formof a slimline battery of the type that are commonly included in mobilephones allows for ejection of media from the peripheral component evenwhen the base unit has been switched off and/or disconnected from mainspower-this feature can often prove invaluable.

Most preferably, the worktop front face also includes one or morefurther components which power switch control, and one or more lights,said further components being wired to the base unit by conventionalmanner.

The present invention will now be described by way of example, withreference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a front view of a worktop according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a plan view of the worktop of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a front view of a desk comprising theworktop of FIGS. 1 and 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a side view of the desk of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a worktop 10 comprises first and secondsurfaces 12 and 14, respectively, and a face 16. The first surface 12,which, in use, is a working surface, is spaced apart from the secondsurface 14, which, in use, is an under surface, by the face 16 to definethe thickness 18 of the worktop 10.

The worktop 10 further comprises one or more parts of a computer systemembedded therein. For convenience of user control, in this example theembedded computer parts are a CD/DVD drive 20, on/off switch 22, a setof three indicator lights 24, and a USB port 26. However, it will beappreciated that any number, or type, of computer parts may be embeddedin the worktop. A worktop/computer interface 28 is also embedded in theworktop 10. Signal/power couplings 30A, 30B, 30C connect each of theadditional components, such as the LEDs, the power switch, and thestandard USB port with the worktop/computer interface 28 such thatsignals, either data or simply standard electrical signals, can becommunicated therebetween. In this example the signal/power couplingsare electrical connections. However, they may alternatively be opticalconnections. It is to be mentioned here that the interface 28 may mostsimply be a routing box which provides no other function except toprovide a means whereby the wires embedded in the worktop may mosteasily be connected through to the motherboard within the base unit of acomputer disposed underneath the worktop as hereinafter described.Indeed, in the case where the worktop is provided with wires withsuitable connectors and of a suitable length for connection to therelevant connectors on the base unit, there may be no need whatsoeverfor the interface unit 28.

The embedded computer parts are disposed in the worktop such that theyare contained within the thickness 18 thereof, to provide anuninterrupted first surface 12, thereby enhancing the working surface ofthe worktop while nevertheless providing easy and unhindered access tothe peripheral components.

The computer parts and communication channels are embedded in theworktop by forming an inlay in an appropriate first surface, secondsurface or face of the worktop, such that the inlay is dimensioned toaccommodate the relevant computer part or signal/power coupling. Theinlay is formed using a router tool or other similar tool.

The embedded computer parts are suitably disposed in the worktop suchthat they facilitate user control of the computer system. For example,as shown in. the drawings, the CD/DVD drive 20, on/off switch 22, set ofindicator lights 24, and USB port 26 are disposed such that their userinterface are exposed on the face 16 of the worktop which, in normaloperation, faces the user. The user is therefore provided with controlof such user interface computer parts in a convenient position remotefrom other non embedded computer parts, such as for example the CPU,without any cables visible therebetween.

In accordance with the invention, a conversion module 31 and anassociated slimline battery pack 31A (to which access may be providedthrough the under surface of the desk for replacement) are embedded inthe worktop 12, and a standard internal interface connection 31B isprovided between the drive 20 and said module 31. The particularelectronics of the module are well within the knowledge of the skilledperson and therefore not repeated here, suffice it to mention that theelectronic circuitry of the conversion module not only converts thesignals from an IDE/EIDE type received over the connection 31B to aUSB-type standard, but also performs some amplification of these signalsso that they may be adequately carried over the USB cable 31C whichconnects the module ideally to a suitable USB port provided on theinterface 28, or possibly directly to one of the external USB ports onthe base unit of the computer. To save on space, the external interfacestandard for communication between the module 31 and the base unit is ofthe mini-USB type.

In the case of USB port 26 provided in the front of the worktop (ideallyfor easy connection of the now popular USB memory sticks), a simpleextension lead is all that is required, thus most simply allowing remotedisposition of one of the external USB ports on the base unit.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a desk 100 comprises a worktop 110, asdescribed above. Although FIGS. 3 and 4 show the worktop 110 utilised asa desktop, it will be appreciated that the worktop may be utilised forother applications such as, for example, in kitchens and laboratories.

The desk 100 further comprises a support structure 132 having a pair ofupright members 134 a and b, each having a lower end, 136 and 138, andan upper end, 140 and 142, respectively. The upright members 134 a and bare spaced apart by a cross member 144.

Attached to each of the lower ends 136 and 138 are stabilising feet, 146and 148, respectively. Attached to the upper ends, 140 and 142, is asupporting frame 150, which extends between the upright members 134 aand 134 b to support the worktop 110 therebetween. The worktop 110 isfixed to the supporting frame 150.

The desk further comprises screening means 152 for hiding additionalnon-embedded computer parts 154 of a computer system. The screeningmeans 152 comprises a screen 156 and a shelf 158. The shelf 158 carriesthe additional non-embedded computer parts 154. The screen 156 is fixedto, and extends between, the upright members, 134 a and 134 b, suchthat, in normal use, the additional non-embedded computer parts 154 arehidden from view, as shown in FIG. 3.

An external signal/power coupling 160, couples the worktop/computerinterface 128 and the non-embedded computer parts 154 and providestransmission of signals and power therebetween.

By virtue of the above, the reader will appreciate that the worktop, andmore specifically the desk of which the worktop forms part, allows forthe rapid and simple connection of a standard computer base unit whichcan be connected to the desk with little or no modification andimmediately expanded by means of the additional drive embedded in thedesk. Such facility is not demonstrated anywhere in the prior art.

In summary therefore, the invention provides a worktop comprising afirst surface and second surface spaced apart by a face to define thethickness of the worktop. The worktop is provided with a compartmenttowards the rear which can receive a standard computer base unit. Asource of mains power is provided to this compartment by means of cable,and further connections to the base unit within the compartment allowfor the standard peripherals, namely a display, a keyboard and a mouseto be attached. The worktop and associated compartment are supported onlegs or other suitable supports which may be movable so that the worktopcan be raised or lowered. The worktop has at least one peripheralcomponent, e.g. a DVD, embedded in its thickness which is accessible atthe front of the worktop. In order that the base unit of the computercan communicate with the component, a conversion module is providedwhich converts the USB signals at the base unit to IDE/EIDE signalsreceived by or transmitted from the component.

1. A worktop comprising a first surface and second surface spaced apartby a face to define the thickness of the worktop which has front andrear portions, said worktop being provided with a compartment towardsthe rear portion of suitable dimensions to receive a standard computerbase unit, said worktop and associated compartment being supported andoptionally movable relative to said support, said worktop havingembedded therein at least one peripheral component adapted forconnection to a motherboard disposed within the base unit, saidperipheral component being provided with data communication means of aninternal interface standard type, said peripheral component beingdisposed in the front portion of the worktop between the first andsecond surfaces so as to be accessible to a user for removal,replacement or insertion of suitable media thereinto, characterized inthat a conversion module is embedded in the worktop proximate theperipheral component which is connected to said conversion module bymeans of a suitable internal interface connector, said conversion moduleacting to convert the signals received from the peripheral componentfrom signals of an internal interface standard type to signals of anexternal interface standard type, said conversion module transmittingsaid external interface standard signals to the base unit disposed inthe compartment towards the rear of the worktop.
 2. A worktop accordingto claim 1 characterised in that the conversion module includes signalamplification circuitry which effectively amplifies the signals of aninternal interface standard type before converting these into signalsinto those of an external interface standard type.
 3. A worktopaccording to either claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that theinternal interface standard is of the IDE type, and the externalinterface standard is of the USB type.
 4. A worktop according to anypreceding claim characterised in that the transmission of the externalinterface standard signals from the conversion module is effected bymeans of one or more wires, first ends of which are connected to thebase unit optionally via an interface unit, and second ends areconnected to said conversion module.
 5. A worktop according to anypreceding claim characterised in that a source of power, independent ofthe source of power provided to the base unit, is provided to theconversion module.
 6. A worktop according to claim 5 characterised inthat the independent source of power is a battery wired to theconversion module and embedded in the worktop proximate to saidconversion module.
 7. A worktop according to any preceding claimcharacterised in that the peripheral component is a media drive having aslot at its front for receiving suitable user-insertable media, andfurther provided with a rear connector of an internal interface standardtype, said rear connector being wired to the conversion moduleinternally of the worktop.
 8. A worktop according to claim 7characterised in that the component is a DVD drive.
 9. A worktopaccording to claim 7 characterised in that the peripheral component is ahard disk drive.
 10. A worktop according to any preceding claimcharacterized in that the peripheral component is embedded in theworktop in such a manner that the majority of the body of the peripheralcomponent is concealed within the worktop excepting the front face ofsaid peripheral component, which is preferably flush with the front faceportion of the worktop.
 11. A worktop according to any preceding claimcharacterized in that the peripheral component, the accompanyingconversion module to which it is attached, and the base unit are capablecommunicating bi-directionally in that data is received by themotherboard of the base unit, and transmitted therefrom ultimately to bereceived by the peripheral component.